THE BENEFITS OF KEEPING THE BALL LOW





One of the most neglected aspects of modern tennis is the ability to keep the ball low. Young players today are so focused on hitting bigger shots and are so fixated on topspin that their ability to maintain a low ball is entirely missing.

However, the top players understand the value of keeping a ball low in certain situations and employ underspin a lot more than you might otherwise think. Here's when keeping the ball low is beneficial…




1. To Stop Your Opponent Attacking You

It's the era of big groundstrokes! Dominant forehands are now the norm and any ball waist height today is an invitation for your opponent to go on the attack.

If you throw in a low ball when you get in trouble during the rally, you neutralize your opponent's offense. The low ball has taken the ball out of their strike zone and gets you back into the rally on level terms.

Underspin helps you to defend a point. By keeping the ball low, you are 
neutralizing your opponents attacking opportunities



2. When You Volley

If you are at the net and playing a volley, you are generally in a solid position to win the point. The only genuine concern you have is being passed or lobbed by your opponent.

This can be avoided by keeping the ball low because a passing shot or lob is much more difficult off a low ball. Keeping the bounce low may only be a small change but will still make all the difference to your opponent's options.




3. When You Approach Net

Many up-and-coming players today have relatively poor net games. It's not just the quality of their volleys that's causing them problems; it's often in the quality of their approach shot that the trouble starts.

Like the Volley, any ball you approach the net on that bounces too high will give your opponent the chance to counter-attack.

Learning to approach with underspin (usually the best way to keep the ball low) and to vary the depth of your approach will keep you safe as you go forward, and your net game, in general, will be much more effective.




4. Slow the Ball Down

Everyone is hitting the ball fast, and although I teach my players to hit with speed, I also like to see them mix in slow balls sometimes.

This is particularly effective in women's tennis, where some of the most successful players in women's tennis recently could use an underspin backhand to create a variety of speeds during the rally. Ashley Barty (currently world number 1) has a very effective one-handed underspin backhand, allowing her to defend, change speeds, and create an effective net game based on keeping the ball low.

Many of the #1 ranked women have had exceptional underpin 
backhands. Today, Ashley Barty has one of the best underspin backhands in 
women's tennis.


5. To Create Variety

It's important as a player not to be too one-dimensional. Being predictable allows your opponent to be one step ahead in the mental battle taking place in each match. It's tough to win when you are "playing mental catch-up" like this with your opponent throughout a match.

You're adding another layer to your game by adding underspin to create low balls.

The best players in our game got to the top not because they hit the ball faster than everyone else. They got there because they had the shots to attack and defend the most effectively. Maybe it's time to add low balls to your on-court "toolbox."



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Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Comments

  1. UnknownAugust 8, 2020 at 3:52 AM

    So true. Too often I see young players trading huge ground strokes. One player sets up a slightly shorter ball but doesn't hit a follow through slice and take the net. Instead they hit yet another top spin drive and step back to the baseline or beyond. When they are questioned they say they are no good at volleys. They then spend most of their next practice hitting powerful top spin from the back court.

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